THE RAGGED TROUSERED PHILANTHROPISTS – AN ORIGINAL MUSICAL ABOUT THE WORKING CLASS
(In no particular order) William Easton, Frank Owen, Philpot, Harlow, White, Linden and all of the other working class men of Mugsborough must face everyday knowing one strange yet familiar truth: it is unlikely they will inherit the earth. Work it? Yes. Barter it? Perhaps. Own it? Never.
In The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist, a musical dramedy in three acts, the relationship between occupation and labour is explored in an atmosphere of the possibilities that socialism might present to the working class. Every man struggles to provide for himself and his family and they are pushed to eliminate thoughts of self-improvement in favour of the ideals of all socialist manifestos i.e. The Greater Good.
In between, they freeze to death, never really have a satisfying meal and contemplate – even commit – suicide. It is all about money and the lack thereof until it turns into a tale of humanity and the prospect of living without that too. All the while, the owners, proprietors, capitalists, your (in no particular order, at all) Sweater’s, Rushton’s and the like laugh all the way into their first-class graves… but where does the difference lie really? A grave is still a grave; first class or not.
Here’s to you, the average man, you who work to live and live to work!
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists was originally presented Off- Broadway by The Labor Theater in 1979, directed by C. R. Portz
Author: James Campbell
Genre: Musical, Drama
Type: Three Act Play
Main Characters: 8 –M, 1- F (Total cast 15M, 2F)
Ages of the actors: Adult and older
Suitable for: All can watch, but aimed at adults
Length: Two and a half hours
Level of difficulty: 8/10 – accents and ability to sing as well as act
Read a Sample of the script
Read an example of the music from the show
Cost is $6.50 for the digital script
Cost is $5.50 for the original handwritten score
Contact Off The Wall Plays with any queries about The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists
Copyright © March 2017 James Campbell and Off The Wall Play Publishers
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